USMC Medal of Honor recipients
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1st Bn, 26th Marines
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The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
CORPORAL CHARLES J. BERRY
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk
of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a member of a Machine-gun
Crew, serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, Fifth Marine
Division, in action enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima
in the Volcano Islands, on 3 March 1945. Stationed in the front lines,
Corporal Berry manned his weapon with alert readiness as he maintained
a constant vigil with other members of his gun crew during the hazardous
night hours. When infiltrating Japanese soldiers launched a surprise attack
shortly after midnight in an attempt to overrun his position, he engaged
in a pitched hand grenade duel, returning the dangerous weapons with prompt
and deadly accuracy until an enemy grenade landed in the foxhole. Determined
to save his comrades, he unhesitatingly chose to sacrifice himself and
immediately dived on the deadly missile, absorbing the shattering violence
of the exploding charge in his own body and protecting the others from
serious injury. Stouthhearted and indomitable, Corporal Berry fearlessly
yielded his own life that his fellow Marines might carry on the relentless
battle against a ruthless enemy and his superb valor and unfaltering devotion
to duty in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon himself
and upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for
his country.
/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN
3rd Marine Division 4th
Marine Division 5th Marine Division
Berry Caddy Chambers Cole Dunlap Gray Harrell Herring Jacobson Julian
Labelle LeimsLucas Lummus Martin McCarthy Phillips Pierce Ruhl Sigler Stein
Walsh Watson Wahlen Williams Williams
USN Willis
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